In Sa Dec, production has been bustling since the beginning of the 9th lunar month. Farmers are planting short-day flowers such as marigolds, pico chrysanthemums, and gerberas. Traditional pot chrysanthemums were sown three months ago. Mr. Dang Quang Giau, head of the Tan An flower and ornamental plant cooperative, stated that its 11 members are cultivating 300,000 pots. Two-thirds of these are for the Sa Dec Flower Festival during the Gregorian New Year, with the remainder destined for the Lunar New Year.

Mr. Dang Quang Giau tends to his flower garden in Sa Dec flower village. Photo: Ngoc Tai

Multi-colored pot chrysanthemums remain the primary product, making up 50% of the output. Mr. Giau noted that with the two Tet holidays spaced further apart this year, growers must precisely calculate flowering times to ensure market readiness. Sa Dec has approximately 55 hectares dedicated to Tet flowers, yielding 800,000 pots. This represents a 15% decrease from last year, attributed to heavy rainfall and tidal flooding.

According to Mr. Huynh Anh Dien, Vice Chairman of Sa Dec Ward, local authorities are encouraging farmers to enhance quality and use appropriate fertilizers. This strategy aims to reduce costs and boost competitiveness. The Sa Dec Flower Festival 2026 will run from 27/12 to 4/1, designed to stimulate tourism and flower sales before the Lunar New Year.

Cho Lach farmers care for ornamental flowers for the 2026 Lunar New Year. Photo: Trung Nguyen

In Cho Lach, known as the "kingdom of ornamental flowers," farmers across Phu Phung, Hung Khanh Trung, and Vinh Thanh communes are nurturing over 12 million flower and ornamental plant products. Mr. Le Van Be, from Vinh Thanh commune, cultivates 5,000 pots of pot chrysanthemums, Taiwan chrysanthemums, and Thai chrysanthemums. He explained that growers must cut the shoots five times to ensure even blooming and beautiful flowers, often working through the night with lights. Under favorable weather, each chrysanthemum pot can sell for 80,000–90,000 dong, yielding a 40–50% profit.

In Cho Lach commune, Mr. Nguyen Van Phuc is preparing about 500 yellow apricot trees for Tet. These trees are priced at 1.5–2 million dong each, with traders already placing a 30% deposit. Mr. Phuc highlighted the risks: a sudden cold spell or late rain causing early flowering could result in a lost harvest.

Cho Lach ornamental flower village supplies 12-15 million products to the market each Tet season. Photo: Trung Nguyen

According to Mr. Tran Huu Nghi, Vice Chairman of the Cho Lach Communal People's Committee, the commune has 3,500 hectares of agricultural land dedicated to growing plant seedlings and ornamental flowers. This year, farmers are preparing approximately 2.5 million flower and ornamental plant products, a 10% increase from last year. OCOP 3-star standard pot chrysanthemums account for 1.2 million products, with marigolds, yellow apricot trees, and other varieties making up the remainder. About 70% of the output has been pre-purchased by traders, while farmers will sell the rest at Tet flower markets.

An Binh - Ngoc Tai